POCHIN OPENS THE DOOR FOR FEMALES IN CONSRUCTION
As part of the Constructions Skills fresh approach to National Construction Week, all year round events are taking place throughout UK promoting employer opportunities to young people and industry leaders.
Pochin Construction in partnership with Construction Skills undertook an initiative to encourage girls to become involved in construction skills. 13 female students from year nine, six from both Aberconwy School and seven from Dyffryn Conwyn School, attended the development site of the Welsh Assembly Government building, Llandudno Junction to experience a day in the life of working on a construction site.
The girls were given a Health and Safety talk, Careers in Construction presentation and a tour of the construction site. They also met with the on-site construction team, which includes a female Quantity Surveyor.
Lara Da Rocha-Faria, education liaison officer for Pochin Construction commented: "This was a fantastic opportunity for students to experience first hand what construction work actually entails, helping to break down the stereotype that construction is only for boys!"
On the initiative, Jonathan Pochin, Managing Director of Pochin Construction commented: "Pochin is strongly committed to the education and development of young people and engagement with the wider community. Having such a state of the art building being constructed in North Wales offers a unique opportunity for children to interact with the building industry and for us to showcase Careers in construction.
"This is the first of many programmes, which we will be involved in, working closely with Construction Skills and Careers Wales to encourage schools and colleges to visit the site at Llandudno Junction and meet the professionals throughout the construction programme."
Deputy Minister for Skills John Griffiths said: "We want young people to reach their full potential - gender should not prevent anyone from achieving their goals. Equality and diversity are integral to the skills and employment agenda in Wales and I am pleased that the construction of the new Welsh Assembly Government offices in Llandudno Junction is offering such a unique opportunity for young people in the area."
In November, the group also took part in practical activities delivered by the Coleg Llandrillo staff at the Rhyl site, which involved planning a ground floor of a McDonald's Restaurant and building a small windmill. The day was an opportunity for the pupils to see that Construction is not only bricklaying and joinery but also planning, sustainable development and much more.